We have a lot of happy memories of our 4 years in Portland, Oregon while Andy attended seminary. God provided in a wonderful way for my job with Nationwide Insurance. Here's the story, see if you don't agree that he was working in our behalf.
We arrived in Portland in August of 1974 after driving cross country with all our belongings for beginning our married life together - in our car. It was packed full, the trunk, the back seat and even the seat next to the front passenger door. This car had a bench seat in the front, so I was able to sit next to Andy the whole trip, but that was ok, we were newly weds! (I would still sit next to him, though, if we had a bench seat in our car.)
We arrived, looked for an apartment, then bought a newspaper to look for a job for me. Andy and I determined that if we answered an ad for an employment agency that we were going to ask the company hiring me to pay the fee. I answered an ad for Nationwide Insurance that was being advertised by an employment agency. I filled out their application and took their typing test. A day or so later, we got a knock on our apartment door. The head of personnel came in person to see me and told me he wanted me for the job. He had tried to call, but our phone wasn't hooked up yet. He told me no one had ever done as well in the typing test as I had - with 100% accuracy and speed. We talked about pay, benefits, but then told him our requirement that we couldn't pay the employment agency fee. He left and we thought that was the end of it. But a little later he returned to tell us he had worked out a deal - he would start me out at a higher salary, enough so that I could pay the fee and still get the same amount they had agreed to pay me to start. Andy and I were so thankful and blessed with God's obvious involvement in this detail.
Seminary years were difficult in many ways. Andy had to work nights and at times, had several jobs, plus studying for his classes. He did well, too! I worked full time, then surprise! I got pregnant. Of course, we were very excited about a little one joining our family. But it did throw extra pressure on Andy to wonder how he would continue to provide for his family, as well as finish his schooling. As it turned out, that baby was still born at 43 weeks. What a heart break. But again God was with us and life goes on. I went back to work at Nationwide, Andy continued his classes. When a baby is lost, it's almost impossible for that mother to not immediately want another one - to fill her empty arms and heart. Andy so graciously listened to my tearful pleas and agreed that we should have another baby. So one year after Jeremy was born, God gave us a little girl.
Well, we now had a baby, but Andy still had a year left of seminary. We decided that since the baby was new born, I could go back to work part time and Andy could arrange his classes so that he could watch her while I was at work. So I worked from 8:00-11:00 Monday through Friday. I look back at it, wondering how we did it, but I guess we were young and determined. And it was for a season.
On top of Andy's work and class schedule and my getting pregnant twice, Andy was dealing with the beginnings of his health issues. He was in the hospital several times for his bladder infections, and once for an freak injury to his neck that he sustained while running. He was in traction with that for nearly a week.
So when Andy finally graduated, the seminary also held a graduation ceremony for the wives. I value this "diploma" because it has a lot of memories attached to it. We went through deep waters in those four years, but we also made some dear, dear friends who became like family to us.
I had dropped out of college in order to help Andy get his degrees. I never imagined that I would ever finish my own college degree. But 39 years after my classmates, I did! In a way, it was more meaningful this time. I was able to concentrate on one subject at a time. I did a lot better - grade-wise - this time, perhaps because I only had one subject, but getting the A's in both classes did a lot to improve my overall grade point average!
So now, I'm finally a college graduate. People have asked what I intend to do with my degree. Hmmm...maybe I'll be a pastor's wife! Or maybe church secretary! Whatever, I hope I'm always available for whatever God has for us.
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